Chapter 36

She hasto know how amazing she how much of a woman she is.

Hannah doesn’t need to have babies to be the perfect woman. Her value isn’t intrinsically tied to that, no matter how much she feels it is, but there is no good way for me to say that without sounding like an ass. I have no idea how she’s feeling. It’s an emotion I’ll never be able to comprehend. I lost a baby, but I can’t imagine what it must be like to want kids and not be able to have them. To feel like you are less because of it.

“It’s not your fault,” I say, and cup her cheeks in my hands, stroking my thumbs across that smooth skin. “Hannah, Princess, look at me.”

Her eyes flicker down and then up. Her lips part on a breath, and the tears are a continuous stream.

“It is not your fault,” I say.

She presses her lips together and nods. “T-Thank you. I shouldn’t cry. It’s ridiculous.”

“It’s not ridiculous. You have every right to feel how you fucking feel.”

“Man, that therapist is really doing a number on you,” she whispers.

I chuckle and tuck her hair behind her ears. “Don’t give her all the credit,” I say. “I’m taking small steps to get there, and I could not have done any of this without you. You are all woman, Hannah. Strong, intelligent, proud, capable, independent.”

More tears come, and she grabs the front of my shirt, twisting it in her fingers. “Thank you,” she whispers. “It’s hard to feel that way sometimes. I feel weak right now.”

“Well, you’re the strongest person I know.”

She slides her hands over my chest and down my biceps. “Sure, I am,” she says. “Have you seen you?”

“You know what I mean,” I say. “And bonus, you can pack a mean punch now.”

A smile transforms her face, and it feels like I’m being torn apart looking at her. Fuck, she is everything. She is everything.

I am in love with her.

I am so in love with her that I can’t think of anyone else, but if I tell her, she will want to stay. I’m not sure how I’m going to handle having a woman in my life again, because I’m terrified that I’ll go feral and overprotective, and act like an idiot.

And I am not sure that Hannah wants me to love her.

She rises up onto her tiptoes and kisses me on the lips. “Thank you, Carter. Thank you for coming.”

“June was caught up in that conversation with your grandmother and father. I’m sure she’ll come to find you soon enough.”

“Then we’d better make this quick.” Her hands move to my jeans.

“Princess,” I say, stopping her hands. “You’re vulnerable.”

“I don’t feel that way when I’m with you.”

I clench my jaw because her hands sweeping over my shirt, down to my belt, to the zipper of my jeans, has me instantly hard.

“We could get caught,” she murmurs.

“Mmm.” I catch her wrists in mine and hold them tight. I catch her lips with mine and kiss her softly. I want this to be gentle and sweet, but Hannah returns the kiss with such desperation, such roughness, that I push her back onto the bed.

“Quick,” she whispers. “I want it quick and hard and?—”

“Anything you want, Princess.” I unzip my jeans and pull them down just enough, then slip my cock out.

Hannah’s wearing a pair of jeans herself, and I strip them down, along with a pair of lacy pink underwear that’s been a permanent feature in my dreams for months. Her pussy glistens wet for me, and I hurriedly press into her.

She cries out, and I cover her mouth. “Quiet.”

Hannah’s eyes light up. She nips the side of my hand, and I remove it. “What if I don’t want to be quiet?”

“Then I’ll have to punish you.” I pound into her pussy, and she moans, her lips tip upward at the corners in a mischievous smile.

I wrap my hand around her throat, and she gasps. I bring my mouth to hers and catch every moan with my tongue while I work her pussy with hard thrusts that take me closer and closer to my fucking breaking point.

“You want my cum?” I ask.

“In my mouth,” she whispers. “I want it in my mouth and on my face.”

“Here?”

“Yes. Here. I want you to.”

“Jesus, Princess. You’re fucking?—”

“Do it, Carter. I want it.”

“Whatever. You. Want.” I drive each word home with a thrust, removing my hand from her throat and sliding it down her body to reach her clit. I bring her to the edge, and she bites her bottom lip hard as she orgasms.

She rocks against me, hissing and breathing, clenching and bringing me to the brink.

Once she’s come, once I am sure that she’s taken care of and she’s come down from the edge, I pull out of her and stroke my shaft.

Hannah squirms off the edge of the bed and onto the throw rug. She kneels, tucking her hands between her thighs, and opens her mouth, tipping her head back to accept what I’ve got for her.

“Fuck, Princess. You are so fucking—” I’m transported, in fucking ecstasy as I let loose on her lips, her greedy little tongue, her face.

She closes her eyes and lets out a tiny moan, squirming on the spot.

After, I rush to the guest bathroom and come back with a wet towel. I clean her face, carefully, and then help her up.

“That was amazing,” she whispers. “It’s kind of weird, but I’ve always wanted to do that.”

We get dressed, and I can’t keep my eyes off her. She drives me to heights I’ve never experienced before, not just when I’m inside her, but in conversation. When she smiles or moves.

“I’m going to wash up,” she says, and heads for the bathroom, taking that ruined towel with her. I wait until she’s done then take my turn cleaning up.

She’s waiting for me on the bed when I exit the bathroom, and I head over to her, lift her into my arms, and kiss her.

I love you, Hannah.

I want to say it, but I don’t. I can’t.

I can’t hold her back, but I also can’t deal with the thought of her in harm’s way or out of sight. And the idea that any man might put their hands on her, or feel anything like the way I do about her, makes my palms sweat, fists clench.

“Are you okay?” Hannah asks, rising onto tiptoe so she can kiss me.

I nod, but keep my silence.

As long as you’re with me, I’m happy.